Loose Blues band members, left to right, Dan Beck, Hillary Lee and Steve McConnell perform during the first of the Waterfront Jazz Series, June 22, 2014, at the Harbor Plaza in Suisun City. (Steve Reczkowski/Daliy Republic)

Summer starts in Suisun City with jazz at the waterfront

A program of outdoor entertainment that started this weekend at the Suisun City Waterfront signals that a new season of picnic blankets and lawn chairs has arrived.

The Saturday Night Movie showing and Sunday’s Waterfront Jazz Series kicked off a schedule of free films and live music that continues through the coming months at Harbor Plaza.

Community members claimed park benches and settled on the grass for a two-hour performance by Loose Blues, Sunday, that brought some of the people to their feet.

“It was a dance band, it was exciting,” said Celia Banda-Brown, a longtime Suisun City resident.

The performance by Loose Blues marked the beginning of the Waterfront Jazz Series, which continues on most Sundays through Aug. 24. The Suisun City Community Services Foundation organized the fundraising for the shows, which are sponsored by Republic Services/Solano Garbage Company and feature several area musicians.

“I’ve been coming to this event for years, and this is really the best kickoff performance they’ve ever had,” Banda-Brown said.

The five-member band played covers such as Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” sung by Hillary Lee, and “local celebrity” Herman Wilson joined the group for a special performance with his tenor saxophone.

“We loved playing with him,” Lee said after the show.

The Walnut Creek-based group was formed about 20 years ago by rhythm guitarist Jack Collins.

“We tend to play blues songs that are danceable,” he said.

City Councilman Mike Segala, who was manning the mic between the music, estimated that more than 300 people were in the crowd.

The Suisun City Community Services Foundation provides funding and support for a variety of activities and projects.

The nonprofit brought Saturday Night at the Movies, sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the Suisun-Fairfield Rotary Club, back to the waterfront this year with a showing of “Bolt” on Saturday. The free movies continue through Aug. 23 and start at dusk, which is about 8:30 p.m., at Harbor Plaza, located at Main and Solano streets.

Reach Adrienne Harris at 427-6956 or [email protected] Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aharrisdr.

Waterfront Jazz Series

June 19 – Lao Tizer

July 6 – No performance

July 13 – Ted Schafer’s Jelly Roll Band

July 20 – 2nd Planet

July 27 – The Dalt Williams Quartet

Aug. 3 – Dave Rocha Jazz Group

Aug. 10 – David Correa and Cascada

Aug. 17 – Alive Music Orchestra

Aug. 24 – Batacha

Saturday Night Movies

June 28 – “Mary Poppins”

July 12 – “Frozen”

July 19 – “Pirates of the Caribbean”

July 26 – “The Smurfs 2″

Aug. 2 – “Free Willy”

Aug. 9 – “The Lego Movie”

Aug. 16 – “Despicable Me 2″

Aug. 23 – “Finding Nemo”

a jazz performance by Loose Blues

a jazz performance by Loose Blues

a jazz performance by Loose Blues

a jazz performance by Loose Blues

a jazz performance by Loose Blues

a jazz performance by Loose Blues

Adrienne Harris

Adrienne joined the Daily Republic in September 2009. She earned her journalism degree at the University of Florida in 2005 and has worked at newspapers in Fort Pierce, Fla.; Las Cruces, N.M.; and El Paso, Texas.